Bloomberg announces $50 million project to fight gun violence

Published 04/16 2014 02:41PM

Updated 04/16 2014 02:43PM

BY HASANI GITTENSBillionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to spend at least $50 million this year to combat gun violence in the United States through a new lobbying group, Everytown for Gun Safety.

At its heart, Everytown will encompass two other groups: Mayors Against Illegal Guns — founded by Bloomberg and former Boston Mayor Tom Menino; and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of mothers that was founded the day after the Newtown, Conn., school shooting on Dec. 14, 2012.

Bloomberg said in a New York Times article published Tuesday evening that he plans to spend the $50 million – at least – through Everytown’s advocacy work as well as “personal expenditures.”

“I put $50 million this year, last year into coal, $53 million into oceans,” he told the Times about the causes he supports. “Certainly a number like that, $50 million. Let’s see what happens.”

The group will have kick-off events in several cities across the country on Wednesday to spread the word and launch the “Gun Sense Voter” campaign that aims to mobilize 1 million voters to support officials and laws that tout gun safety.

Bloomberg noted that his commitment to this cause will not only be a financial one, but he is also ready to put in the time.

“You’ve got to work at it piece by piece,” he told the Times. “One mom and another mom. You’ve got to wear them down until they finally say, ‘Enough.’”